Spirited Away | Ghibliotheque #1

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

To coincide with UK broadcaster Film4's complete Studio Ghibli retrospective this summer, Michael Leader (Little White Lies, Sight & Sound), an avowed Ghibli fanatic, is sitting down with Jake Cunningham (The Independent, BFI), who has never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they'll be looking at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), getting a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer and forcing Michael to rank some of his favourite ever films.

In this episode, Michael and Jake tackle Studio Ghibli's biggest hit, Spirited Away. First released in 2002, Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy adventure broke box office records in Japan, went on to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. In the years since, it has become the defining work for both Ghibli and Miyazaki - and there's no better place to start our adventure through the Studio's library of films.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

This week, Michael & Jake are joined by Iana Murray (https://twitter.com/suspiriana) to paw over the only feature-length sequel in the Ghibli canon, and Hiroyuki Morita's sole directorial credit for the Studio: the feline fantasy adventure The Cat Returns.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

This week, Michael & Jake discuss Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Ghibli debut, Arrietty. Based on the Mary Norton children's classic, this fantasy following the adventures of a tiny girl and her miniature family was by no means small-scale - eventually becoming the Studio's highest grossing film in the United States. But is it a mini-masterpiece or small fry?

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this episode, Michael and Jake leave the cosy confines of the Ghibliotheque for an in-depth conversation with The Red Turtle director Michaël Dudok de Wit, recorded live at the British Film Institute as part of their Podstock programme. Dialogue-free, French-animated and developed over a number of years in collaboration with 'artistic producer' Isao Takahata, The Red Turtle is a unique entry in the Studio Ghibli canon, and Michaël shares with the Ghibliotechnicians his memories of creating what is, to date, the only non-Japanese Ghibli production.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this episode, pigs fly (or one does, anyway) as Michael & Jake take off with Hayao Miyazaki's 1992 porcine aviator adventure, Porco Rosso. Initially planned as short in-flight movie for Japan Airlines, the film ballooned as Miyazaki went the whole hog, packing the film with period detail, memorable characters and thrilling airborne action sequences - resulting in a 90-minute piggy bank stuffed to the brim with magical Ghibli moments. Will our hosts roast the hog, or will they deem it a full-boar Miyazaki masterpiece?

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this episode, Michael & Jake get to grips with one of the oddest films in the Studio Ghibli canon: Isao Takahata's 1994 urbanisation polemic Pom Poko. Focusing on a community of magical tanuki raccoon-dogs who use their powers of transformation - and their large, mythical testicles - to hold back the development of their forest habitat, Pom Poko has earned a unique reputation among fans of the studio. But is it one of the (family) jewels in the Ghibli crown?

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

Michael & Jake return to the Ghibliotheque for a new mini-series, and kick things off with one of Studio Ghibli's biggest hits: 2004's magical adventure Howl's Moving Castle. Howl’s was initially slated as the first Ghibli movie to be directed by an outsider, but Hayao Miyazaki came out of his post-Spirited Away retirement to create what would become one of the veteran director's defining latter-day works. But is its reputation well-deserved?

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this special end-of-season episode, Michael & Jake are joined by Telegraph critic, Wittertainment guest-host and all-round Studio Ghibli expert Robbie Collin, given the choice to bring with him any Ghibli film to discuss, Robbie selected Isao Takahata’s Only Yesterday, an animated drama aimed squarely at an adult audience. One of the Studio’s deepest cuts, Only Yesterday was a box office hit on its initial release in Japan, but it wasn’t released in the USA for 25 years. The film is as experimental, poignant and pointed in its message as you’d expect from Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) - and has over the years become a firm fan favourite.

This episode brings this initial volume of Ghibliotheque to a close. Thank you for listening, it’s been a real adventure, hasn’t it? If you’ve enjoyed the show and would like to hear more episodes of Michael and Jake diving deep in to Studio Ghibli then make sure you tweet:

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this episode, Michael & Jake travel back to 1997 for Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy epic, Princess Mononoke. A huge box office hit in Japan, Mononoke was originally set to be Studio Ghibli's entrance onto the international stage, but this long, complex and violent adventure baffled Disney executives. Ghibli stood firm, refusing cuts or edits, resulting in a smaller, limited American release - but the ensuing film still stands as a testament to Miyazaki's unparalleled craft and unique vision.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this special, host's-choice episode, Michael picks one of his personal favourite Ghibli films for Jake to watch: the whimsical teenage romance, Whisper Of The Heart. Adapted by Hayao Miyazaki from a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, the film was the first, and, sadly, only directorial credit for veteran Ghibli animator Yoshifumi Kondo before his untimely death in 1998 at age 47. It remains one of the Ghibli library's deep cuts, one considered by many fans to be one of the Studio's best. But what will Jake make of it?

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

In this episode, Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham are joined by film programmer and journalist Beth Webb (Empire Magazine, Little White Lies, Bechdel Test Fest) to talk about everyone's favourite forest spirit, My Neighbour Totoro. First released in a double bill with Grave Of The Fireflies in 1988, Totoro was, at first, only a modest success, but thanks to merchandising and some timeless Miyazaki magic, the film has become one of the Studio's most iconic releases, and the character himself serves as Ghibli's company mascot to this day.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

Tissues are recommended for this episode, as Michael and Jake discuss Isao Takahata’s devastating Second World War tragedy, Grave Of The Fireflies. A modest success on its first release in 1988 (when it was presented as an odd double bill with the chipper adventure, My Neighbour Totoro), Grave Of The Fireflies is now recognised as the crowning achievement of Takahata’s long and influential career in animation - and one of the most powerful films ever made, animated or otherwise.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

To coincide with UK broadcaster Film4's complete Studio Ghibli retrospective this summer, Michael Leader (Little White Lies, Sight & Sound), an avowed Ghibli fanatic, is sitting down with Jake Cunningham (The Independent, BFI), who has never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they'll be looking at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), getting a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer and forcing Michael to rank some of his favourite ever films.

In this episode, Michael and Jake tackle Studio Ghibli's biggest hit, Spirited Away. First released in 2002, Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy adventure broke box office records in Japan, went on to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. In the years since, it has become the defining work for both Ghibli and Miyazaki - and there's no better place to start our adventure through the Studio's library of films.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

To coincide with UK broadcaster Film4's complete Studio Ghibli retrospective this summer, Michael Leader (Little White Lies, Sight & Sound), an avowed Ghibli fanatic, is sitting down with Jake Cunningham (The Independent, BFI), who has never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they'll be looking at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), getting a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer and forcing Michael to rank some of his favourite ever films.

Released on Fridays over the summer, subscribe now to get Ghibliotheque delivered straight to your feed.